Some 10-million Filipinos were unemployed in the third quarter of 2019, or 21.5 percent jobless, up from 20.7 percent compared to 19.7 percent in March this year, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey results released Saturday.
The latest survey, from Sept. 27-30, revealed that it found the unemployment rate among Filipinos at 21.5 percent, an increase from 20.7 percent last June and 19.7 percent in March.
Out of the 21.5 percent, 9.5 percent (or 4.4 million) said they voluntarily left their job, 3.5 percent (or 1.6 million) are first-time job seekers.
Other respondents said they became unemployed after their contracts ended and were no longer renewed (5.8 percent), the operations of their previous employers closed (1.3 percent), or were laid off (1.3 percent).
The pollster said that adult joblessness rose in Balance Luzon (25 percent), Mindanao (19.9 percent) and Metro Manila (24.5 percent).
As for the Visayas, the percentage for unemployment fell at 11.8 percent, compared to 18.1 percent recorded last June.
The survey also found that the joblessness rate was significantly higher among women, at 31.4 percent, rather than among men, rating at 14.6 percent.
Because of this, the SWS said, the joblessness rate gender gap rose to 16.8 percent in September, compared to 14.2 percent last June.
The survey, which used face-to-face interviews of 1,800 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide, had a sampling margin of error at ±2.3 percent for national percentages, ±4 percent each for Balance Luzon and Mindanao, and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila and the Visayas.
The quarterly Social Weather Surveys on joblessness are not commissioned, but are done on SWS’ own initiative and released as a public service,” SWS said.